Indian Chess Star Vaishali Wins With Village of Support

R Vaishali just secured her ticket to the Women's World Chess Championship, becoming the first Indian woman in 15 years to compete for the crown. But behind her solo victories at the board stood a small village of supporters who kept her grounded, laughing, and believing she could win.

The 2026 Candidates tournament is one of chess's most intense competitions, with a direct path to world champion status on the line. Vaishali faced that pressure with help from an unusual support crew that extended far beyond traditional chess coaching.

Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand has mentored Vaishali since selecting her for his Westbridge Anand Chess Academy. He connected her with grandmaster Sandipan Chanda, who worked with her leading up to the tournament. But perhaps her most influential guide has been RB Ramesh, the grandmaster who has coached both Vaishali and her brother, grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa, for over a decade.

While Praggnanandhaa competed in his own Candidates tournament in Cyprus, Ramesh had a creative idea. He brought along Pranesh, a 19-year-old grandmaster, to serve as moral support and comic relief.

"The plan to take Pranesh along was made because he's a fun person to be around," Vaishali told ChessBase India after her win. "There were a lot of tense moments during the Candidates, and he would keep things light."

Instead of intense chess analysis, Pranesh played table tennis and paddle with Vaishali between matches. After tough games, he'd greet her with reassuring words: "It's okay, akka!" He even joked about her intense preparation, teasing that she was acting like the world championship was already here.

Back in India, grandmaster Adhiban Bhaskaran played the role of encouraging older brother. "I was speaking to him every day of the Candidates," Vaishali shared. His constant reassurance that things would work out gave her confidence when doubt crept in.

Vaishali's mother, Nagalakshmi, traveled to Cyprus to be there in person, offering the quiet strength that only family can provide. And behind the scenes, a team of chess seconds worked tirelessly on game preparation, though Vaishali is keeping their identities secret until after the World Championship match against Ju Wenjun.

Why This Inspires

Vaishali's journey shows that individual excellence rarely happens in isolation. She needed the wisdom of legends like Anand, the strategic brilliance of her prep team, and the simple gift of laughter from a teenage friend who reminded her not to take herself too seriously. Her village understood that winning at the highest level requires feeding both the mind and the spirit.

Now Vaishali stands one match away from chess immortality, carried there by a community that believed in her completely.